McShane embracing new Wakefield challenge

Wakefield hooker Paul McShane is enjoying being at a new club, following his close season move from Leeds, and is ready to embrace the challenges of a new Super League season.

He also wants to make sure that he is playing as many games as possible, after a season or two where he has struggled to nail down a settled spot in a team.

“It’s a new challenge for me. For me it’s about getting as many games under my belt as possible, and performing well,” McShane told Love Rugby League.

“The main thing for me is taking care of my own performance. The last couple of seasons I’ve been in and out of a side.

“I want to get a good run in a team and play consistently. Hopefully I can do well for the team.”

With relegation back on the agenda in Super League, leading up to a major restructuring of the game in 2015, questions are bound to be asked about the Wildcats’ future as a top level club.

McShane, however, does not believe that it places an additional pressure on the shoulders of the Trinity squad,

“I don’t think so,” he mused.

“As a group, we’re confident in what we can do. We have faith in each other and we believe in what we’re taught.

“I think it brings a bit of excitement back to the Super League. There’ll be a few teams at the end of the year who’ll be involved. I think it’ll be good.

“The people who run the game know what they’re doing.

“The only thing we can do as players is play week-in and week-out and hopefully make it into the top eight bracket at the end of the year.

“But there’s still another year leading up to that restructure, yet, and the main thing really is to concentrate on this season.”

As for facing his old friends at Leeds, McShane is pleased that the pleasantries have already been taken care of, in the Wildcats’ preseason game with the Rhinos.

“We got that out of the way on Boxing Day,” he joked.

“The beginning of the season just can’t come quickly enough. I’m with a new team in a new environment, and I’m really looking forward to it.”